About Blackstar Tech Tool

Blackstar Tech Tool is a free, open source utility for computer technicians. It’s primary aim is to collect necessary tools for any individual job into a single, easy-to-use package.

It is built on Electron and relies heavily upon the Chocolatey package manager for Windows. The back end of the application is a collection of batch, VBScript, PowerShell, and Javascript utilities.

Another purpose of the tool is to function as a scripting trainer. I’m trying to comment the code as completely as possible while also releasing tutorial videos to aid in learning an array of different scripting languages. I’m not a professional at scripting, but I do this work daily and am always learning new ways to get things done.

A macOS version is in the works, but in its earliest stages, and I’ll also be providing updates on that.

Changelog

01/29/20 – v.0.9.3

  • Removed Emsisoft from malware scans utility. Software created massive performance issues on over half of the machines it was installed on, frequently wouldn’t uninstall properly.
  • Added graphics to progress bars
  • Added Google Earth Pro to usability software

11/29/19 – v.0.9.2

  • Hidden most batch scripts to clean up appearance of application running
  • All usability software and anti-malware installer scripts are now also cleaner to look at
  • System Restore creation has likewise been updated to hide batch script
  • Initialization script has also been updated to beautify and streamline the install procedure
  • Fixed issue where uninstall script would get into a loop and ask to uninstall software forever
  • Minor cleanup in code comments

11/27/19 – v.0.9.1

  • More complete cleanup routine for uninstall; no software traces are left behind.

11/14/19 – v.0.9.0

  • Adopted MIT License
  • Added Snappy Driver Installer Origin to utilities menu
  • Added Visual Studio Code to Usability Software utility
  • Updated EULA to include all included software licenses
  • Performed some maintenance on comments in code


11/03/19 – v.0.1.0

Initial features:

  • Initialization script; gathers system information, generates HTML file with all pertinent specs, installs Chocolatey package manager and other necessary utilities
  • Restore point creation script; enables system restore, sets restore point disk allocation, deletes/creates system restore points
  • Malware removal utility; installs, updates, runs and removes anti-malware applications.
  • Usability software utility; installs and updates basic usability software.
  • Check browsers script; detects and launches all popular web browsers.
  • Create review link script; creates customized Google review links.
  • Quality assurance script; runs final check on machine and generates system status report.

Automatically installed utilities:

  • WizTree disk space usage utility
  • CCleaner temporary file and system cleaning utility
  • Autoruns startup manager
  • Process Explorer process manager
  • Tweaking.com Windows Repair Utility (optional install)

Automatically installed diagnostic tools:

  • HDTune hardware test
  • BlueScreenView system dump reader
  • HeavyLoad stress test utility
  • FurMark GPU stress test utility

Available anti-malware software:

  • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  • AdwCleaner
  • Emsisoft Anti-Malware
  • Hitman Pro
  • ClamWin Antivirus
  • Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool
  • Spybot Search & Destroy
  • McAfee Stinger
  • TrendMicro Housecall
  • GMER Anti-Rootkit

Available usability software:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • K-Lite Media Codec
  • 7-Zip File Compression Utility
  • Notepad++
  • TeamViewer
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Oracle OpenOffice
  • Steam
  • Classic Shell
  • Java Runtime Environment
  • CCleaner
  • GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
  • iTunes
  • CDBurnerXP